I was mulling over posting about FedEx here when I saw this thread pop back up. I placed an order with PA over Thanksgiving and went with the default cheapest option of FedEx SmartPost parcel select despite my recent experiences with FedEx. I find it odd that PA's shipping options have had a note next to USPS Priority Mail saying "Expect delays and poor tracking" because the same warning should be given about FedEx from what I've seen over the last year or so. USPS definitely has issues around the holidays, but throughout the rest of the year, their Priority Mail has been consistent and predictable for me, while FedEx has continuously had delays. Almost across the board, when I've shipped something with FedEx, its delivery has been delayed by 2-3 days from what the initial shipping notice predicted, and in some cases, things have been misdirected badly.
I placed my most recent order with PA on Nov 26. It arrived at FedEx in Houston on Sunday, Nov 27 and then headed to MI with an estimated delivery of Wednesday, Dec 1. On Tuesday, the estimated delivery had shifted to Dec 2. In the evening on Dec 1, it arrived in Livonia, MI, a suburb of Detroit, but then it inexplicably departed again that evening for Perrysburg, OH. The next day, Dec 2 (still the predicted delivery date), it returned to Belleville, MI (another suburb of Detroit) by mid-afternoon. Then it sat... from Thursday, Dec 2 until Wednesday, Dec 8 with a status of "Pending" until it finally went out for delivery and arrived yesterday, Dec 8, eleven days after FedEx received it in Houston.
There have been several posts in GD about experiences like this. Here's the most recent:
Yet Another FedEx thread (Now with poll)I'd recommend PA provide the same warning to customers about FedEx delays that the website says for USPS. I'll select UPS or even Priority Mail next time to avoid these FedEx issues.